Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;ceargos&#39;

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named ‘ARGOS’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with yellow-orange ray florets and prolific branching; natural season flower date August 19-25, blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] ‘ARGOS’ is a product of a breeding and selection program foroutdoor pot mums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating newchrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a natural seasonflower date around August 19-25, blooming for a period of 5 weeks. Thenew plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivarof Chrysanthemum plant ‘ARGOS’ is a seedling resulting from the openpollination among groups of chrysanthemum cultivars maintained under thecontrol of the inventor for breeding purposes. The new and distinctcultivar was discovered and selected as one flowering plant by RobNoodelijk on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout Holland in August 2000 Theplant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in greenhouses atRijsenhout Holland. The new cultivar has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] The present invention of a new and distinct variety ofchrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being asnearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

[0003]FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

[0004]FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

[0005]FIG. 3 shows the petiole and foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanicalclassification Chrysanthemum morifolium The observations andmeasurements were gathered from plants grown out door in Rijsenhout,Holland under natural day length and temperature and planted week 22 in2000 and 2001. The natural blooming date of this crop was August 19-25(week 34). The average height of the plants was 26 cms. No growthretardants were used. No tests were done on disease or insect resistanceor susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. Thisnew variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow-orange ray floretsand a yellow center blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

[0007] From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existingcultivar in comparison to ‘ARGOS’ is ‘TAFFY’ (U.S. Plant Pat pending)When TAFFY and ‘ARGOS’ are being compared the following differences arenoticed The differences of ‘TAFFY’ and ‘ARGOS’ are (1) Natural bloomingdate ‘ARGOS’ flowers earlier. (2) Bloom color. ‘ARGOS’ has a more evencolor

[0008] The following is a description of the plant and characteristicsthat distinguish ‘ARGOS’ as a new and distinct variety The colordesignations are taken from the plant itself Accordingly, anydiscrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted inthe photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart usedin this description is. The Royal Horticultural Society color chart,edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of cultivar ‘ARGOS’ Bud SizeMedium; cross-section 1.4 cm, height 1.0 cm. Outside Color Yellow-orange22 A Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 13-15 cm, width 3 mm. Involucralbracts among disc-florets Not present. Involucral bracts colorYellow-green 148 C Bloom Type Decorative. Height Medium, 1.5 cm. SizeMedium. Fully Expanded 3.5-4.0 cm. Number of blooms per branch Approx. 6blooms per branch. Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds (if crossed)Produced in small quantities, ovate grey-brown 199 A, 1 ½ mm in length.Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slight. Color Center of the flower(disc-florets) Immature yellow-orange 16 A Mature yellow-orange 14 AColor of upper surface of the ray- Yellow orange 17 A florets Color ofthe lower surface of the Yellow-orange 22 A. ray-florets Tonality fromDistance A garden mum with yellow-orange flowers and a yellow disc.Color of the upper surface of the Yellow-orange 22 B flowers after agingof the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number100-110 Cross-section Flat. Longitudinal axis of majority Straight.Length of corolla tube Short, 0.3 cm. Ray-floret margin Entire.Ray-floret length 1.6-1.8 cm. Ray-floret width 0.4 cm. Ratiolength/width High. Shape of tip Rounded. Disc florets Disc diameter 0.3cm Distribution of disc florets Present in small amounts Shape Tubular.Color Yellow-orange 24 A. Receptacle shape Domed raised ReproductiveOrgans Stamen (present in disc florets only) Thin, 3 mm in lenght.Stamen color Yellow-green 144 A. Pollen Sometimes present. Pollen colorYellow 7 A. Styles Thin. Style color Yellow-green 144 A. Style Length 4mm. Stigma color Yellow-green 144 A. Stigma Width 1 mm. Ovaries Enclosedin calyx Plant Shape Grown as a spray-type pot-mum, outdoor mounded andround Growth habit Spreading. Growth rate Moderate. Height 26 cm. Width30-32 cm. Stem Color Yellow-green 147 A. Stem Strength Strong. StemBrittleness Present. Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Absent. Length oflateral branch From top to bottom 11-12 cm. Lateral branch colorYellow-green 147 A. Lateral branch, attachment Brittle. Branching(average number of Prolific with 8-9 breaks after pinching. lateralbranches) Peduncle length 5 cm. Peduncle color Yellow-green 147 ANatural season blooming date August 19-25. Foliage Color Upper sideyellow-green 147 A Under side yellow-green 147 C Size Medium.; length4.0 cm, width 5.0 cm Quantity (number per lateral 12-14 branch) ShapeOvate. Texture upper side Glabrous Texture under side Pubescent.Venation arrangement Palmate. Shape of the margin Serrated. Shape ofBase of Sinus Between Acute. Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus BetweenLateral Diverging. Lobes Shape of Base Truncate. Apex Mucronate.Differences with the ‘ARGOS’ ‘TAFFY’ comparison varieties Color of theupper surface Yellow-orange 17 A Center orange 26 A of the ray-floretsOuter florets yellow orange 17 A Natural blooming date August 19-25October 3-10

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant asdescribed and illustrated.